Phoenix Rising, part seven.
Sandhurst military academy, British Isles, Terra.
In the end Pryde and Clearwater where not needed during the split between ComStar and the faction that became known as Word of Blake. They returned to Sandhurst, and Pryde continued to teach ComsGuards Cadets about the Clans.
All things considered, Aidan Pryde fitted into the ComsGuards very well: the similarities between his new home and the SLDF of old made him feel at home, while the les-strict atmosphere was better suited to his maverick tendencies. Simon Clearwater continued to act as his assistant, and the two men became good friends.
The one thing that Pryde took any interest in outside of his duties as a teacher was intelligence reports on Clan Jade Falcon. He was able, after a fashion, to follow MechWarrior Diana's career. He never spoke about his daughter, but kept the photo of her that Precenter Martail Focht had given him on his office desk. Pryde was beginning to feel happy with his life, but in 3058, Word of Blake struck at Terra.
Pryde moved his Hellbringer across the cratered parried ground, followed closely by Clearwater's Cataphract. A Word of Blake ON1-M Orion tried to stop them, but was hit by a barrage of laser and PPC fire from the two lighter Mech's. It fell, trailing smoke. The radio crackled "This is command to all units: Word of Blake forces are moving across the proving grounds. All forces converge on the Mech hanger." Clearwater sighed "That's the second attack this hour. We can't hold them off much longer." "Aff Simon, Aff. We have lost half our BattleMech's and armour to them, and they seem to have a near endless supply of new Mech's to send against us."
The two heavy Mech's rounded the Mech hanger and found themselves on the flank of a vicious battle: An entire Assault battalion of Word of Blake Mech's where squaring off against what remained of the academy training regiment. Pryde engaged a Stalker, while Clearwater helped take down a Thug. The battle raged for over an hour, but the defenders where in the end able to push the Word of Blake forces back.
Pryde surveyed the damage: he was now the highest-ranking officer left in the ComStar forces, but all that remained of the once proud regiment was a company of mixed Mech's. He found Clearwater's Mech lying on the ground; it's entire left side shot-off. He keyed open his radio "Simon, are you ok?" "Neg Aidan, I am not." His friend's normally jovial voice was racked with pain "I think I broke my legs when I fell." Aidan called for a med team to pull the Adept from his Mech.
The doctor who assessed Clearwater's wounds called Pryde back over a hand- held radio "His legs are broken Demi-Precentor Pryde, and he has a bade case of neural-feedback. It will be a long time before he pilots a Mech again, if ever."
Aidan Pryde felt his world begin to fall apart again.
Sandhurst military academy, British Isles, Terra.
In the end Pryde and Clearwater where not needed during the split between ComStar and the faction that became known as Word of Blake. They returned to Sandhurst, and Pryde continued to teach ComsGuards Cadets about the Clans.
All things considered, Aidan Pryde fitted into the ComsGuards very well: the similarities between his new home and the SLDF of old made him feel at home, while the les-strict atmosphere was better suited to his maverick tendencies. Simon Clearwater continued to act as his assistant, and the two men became good friends.
The one thing that Pryde took any interest in outside of his duties as a teacher was intelligence reports on Clan Jade Falcon. He was able, after a fashion, to follow MechWarrior Diana's career. He never spoke about his daughter, but kept the photo of her that Precenter Martail Focht had given him on his office desk. Pryde was beginning to feel happy with his life, but in 3058, Word of Blake struck at Terra.
Pryde moved his Hellbringer across the cratered parried ground, followed closely by Clearwater's Cataphract. A Word of Blake ON1-M Orion tried to stop them, but was hit by a barrage of laser and PPC fire from the two lighter Mech's. It fell, trailing smoke. The radio crackled "This is command to all units: Word of Blake forces are moving across the proving grounds. All forces converge on the Mech hanger." Clearwater sighed "That's the second attack this hour. We can't hold them off much longer." "Aff Simon, Aff. We have lost half our BattleMech's and armour to them, and they seem to have a near endless supply of new Mech's to send against us."
The two heavy Mech's rounded the Mech hanger and found themselves on the flank of a vicious battle: An entire Assault battalion of Word of Blake Mech's where squaring off against what remained of the academy training regiment. Pryde engaged a Stalker, while Clearwater helped take down a Thug. The battle raged for over an hour, but the defenders where in the end able to push the Word of Blake forces back.
Pryde surveyed the damage: he was now the highest-ranking officer left in the ComStar forces, but all that remained of the once proud regiment was a company of mixed Mech's. He found Clearwater's Mech lying on the ground; it's entire left side shot-off. He keyed open his radio "Simon, are you ok?" "Neg Aidan, I am not." His friend's normally jovial voice was racked with pain "I think I broke my legs when I fell." Aidan called for a med team to pull the Adept from his Mech.
The doctor who assessed Clearwater's wounds called Pryde back over a hand- held radio "His legs are broken Demi-Precentor Pryde, and he has a bade case of neural-feedback. It will be a long time before he pilots a Mech again, if ever."
Aidan Pryde felt his world begin to fall apart again.